Definitions of Eligibility

All projects and music related to the person being nominated must have been commercially released between 31st July 2010 – 1 August 2011.

Eligibility for the UK Awards is defined by the person holding a UK passport. Nominees for the International categories must be non-UK passport holders. Those with dual nationalities will only be eligible for the UK awards.

UK PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
For qualifying productions.

This person has overall creative and technical control of the entire recording project and the individual recording sessions that are a part of that project. He or she is present in the recording studio or at the location recording and works directly with the artist and engineer. The producer makes creative and aesthetic decisions that realize both the artist's and label's goals in the creation of musical content. Other duties include but are not limited to: keeping budgets and schedules, adhering to deadlines, hiring musicians, singers, studios and engineers.

The following credits are eligible: Producer, Co-Producer, Vocal Production

The following credits are not eligible for Producer awards: Executive Producer, Assistant Producer / Associate Producer, Additional Production Strings (or any other instrument)

RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
For qualifying productions - the engineer must have recorded or mixed all of the releases under consideration.

Engineer - This person is present in the recording studio or at the location recording and is responsible for the process of recording and mixing a project as well as technical issues and decisions. He or she operates (or oversees the operation of) the equipment during the recording process and makes creative and aesthetic choices in order to realize the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

The following credits are eligible Recording Engineer, Recorded By

The following credits are not eligible for Engineer awards:

Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, tape operator, mix engineer or programming

Mastering Engineer - A mastering engineer is not eligible except in the category of Best Mastering Engineer.

INTERNATIONAL RECORDING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
Non UK based engineer

For qualifying productions - the engineer must have recorded or mixed all of the releases under consideration.

Engineer - This person is present in the recording studio or at the location recording and is responsible for the process of recording and mixing a project as well as technical issues and decisions. He or she operates (or oversees the operation of) the equipment during the recording process and makes creative and aesthetic choices in order to realize the sound and concepts the artist and producer envisage.

The following credits are eligible Recording Engineer, Recorded By

The following credits are not eligible for Engineer awards:

Digital Audio Workstation Engineer/Operator, Assistant Engineer, tape operator, mix engineer or programming

Mastering Engineer - A mastering engineer is not eligible except in the category of Best Mastering Engineer.

MIX ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
For qualifying productions - the mixer must have mixed and not recorded all of the releases under consideration.

This person is responsible for taking previously recorded material and creating a mixdown of the original separate tracks to create a finished product (either stereo or multi-channel) that can then be mastered and distributed.

The following credits are eligible: Mixed By / Mixer / Mix Engineer

MASTERING ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
For mastering work on "qualifying" productions.

The mastering engineer must have been responsible for the processing and preparation of production masters for commercial release.

LIVE PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR
For a "qualifying" production - the project must have been recorded in front of a live audience at a concert venue or in TV studio - the award is given to the production team.

UK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
For a "qualifying" production - awards are presented to the producer, engineer and mixer.

UK SINGLE OF THE YEAR
For a "qualifying" production - awards are presented to the producer, engineer and mixer.

RE-MIXER OF THE YEAR
For qualifying productions, for which the re-mixer took already-recorded material and created a completely new version of the track using what are generally understood to be "re-mixing" studio techniques. 

The following credits are eligible Re-mix Engineer / Re-mixer

THE JOE MEEK LEGACY AWARD

The decision for this award will be made by the Music Producers Guild Awards Committee and will be awarded to a person in production who has made an outstanding contribution to the music production industry.

BREAKTHROUGH PRODUCER
For a producer who has achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year.

BREAKTHROUGH ENGINEER
For an engineer or mixer who has achieved significantly increased recognition during the current year.

STUDIO OF THE YEAR
The best commercial studio - a studio which exists primarily as a rental facility for the recording and/or mixing of music.

INTERNATIONAL PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Awarded to a non-UK producer with the same criteria as Producer.

THE UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Awarded to an individual, resident in the UK, who is judged to be deserving of praise for their efforts, and where they would otherwise not have received such recognition.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO UK MUSIC
Awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK music industry, judged by the Music Producers Guild Committee.